So here's how my "26 minutes of playtime" for GTA IV went down:
- Downloaded local content last night. A IV showed up on my desktop. Was ready to check how it ran after beating III's main story, which I did today on PS4.
- After playing III and watching more Jessica Jones (see last blog), decided I'd have a nightcap playing IV.
- Takes longer than usual for first time set up to install DirectX, then Games for Windows and Rockstar Social Club
- Set up completes. The real "fun" begins.
- Can't sign into Rockstar Social Club. Get password sent to email. Hitting play OR play offline gets Socialk Club window to go away ... then game stops running?
- Investigate through Steam support. Says something about GFW Live. Try to sign in over there.
- Have to get password sent to my email as well as a code sent to my phone cause someone in Taiwan entered my email and an invalid password on the 2nd.
- Get into GFW Live. Have to get yet another code emailed to see my activity (this is when I find out about Taiwan)
- With that out of the way, try to launch game again. There is a menu and I click start
- Games for Windows Live shows up once Social Club goes away. Progress! Only I have to sign into GFW Live again. Ok.
- GFW Live takes FOREVER to verify ... whatever. Then I enter my product key and GFW Live takes another eternity to tell me it's invalid. WHAT?! Re-try (which takes more soul sucking minutes), code still invalid despite matching exactly what it says on bottom right of my screen.
- At this point, I am mad at myself for not having sent a refund request, but I'm determined. I find out a lot of invalid codes are actually redemption keys for xbox.com ... which I'll need an xbox.com acct to get to. In addition to GFW Live.
- Make xbox acct (or one is made for me using GFW info) with oddly fruity default username. Whatever. It says I now own GTA IV PC after entering the key. Good to know I own it NOW. Jesus.
- Attempt again to run the game, and yup, asks for key again, and yup, same key I just successfully redeemed on xbox.com is rejected.
- I send a refund request to Steam Support which is this blog, but more of a run-on sentence.
- I note that since this game was part of a 12.49 GTA bundle I bought a year or so ago, and I've played 12 hrs of III and 1 hr of VC on PC already, I don't really expect a refund. I just want them to know what a crock of shit it was I had to go through that.
- And yes, I tried playing the game without signing in (meaning no save files). I got a black screen with I'm assuming the title menu music.
If by some miracle the refund gets granted (I told them to refund it to my Steam wallet, so I'm betting it's more likely than if I'd ask them to refund my credit card. They know the money will get back to them, though it's still improbable I get it since they need to keep Rockstar happy), I'll buy some other games. If not, I'll play Liberty City Stories and just play VC and SA on my PS4 (I have them on Steam through this bundle, but the 360 control mapping for them is awful). So in the end, it's not a huge deal for me. But my God, had I paid $60 and had this happen, I may have sworn off gaming.
If you played for less than 2 hours you should be ok. Youre not mmissing much. Gta4 is my least favourite game of all time. I hate it. Also, it doesnt run on my pc either. Its a terrible port unfortunately.
I also read your last blpg, and yoyre very nearly up to where jessica jones goes from good to amazing. Enjoy.
So I've heard about Jessica Jones.
Unfortunately, I have IV as part of a bundle, so I think my 12 hours of III playtime willnegate the refund. I just had to say something.
yeah, you know, I kept on getting notifications from Steam that you were playing it, so I imagined you were starting it over and over again cause it wasn't working right.
It's cool man, like Blake says, it's probably the lamest one.
I still want to play it for myself. I know my older brother really liked it and a few other people.
I definitely played a lot of it, don't get me wrong, and it's fun. It just doesn't stand up to the others. You finished the new one though, huh? How was that? I want to play that.
V is fun and I like the characters/story. I'm a little miffed I can't rack up enough money as Michael to buy the country club, which only he can own. Kinda wish they'd made it where I can wire money between characters if they haven't, I haven't looked into that.
I played some of Vice City today, but I think I've had enough of GTA for now. Gonna start Witcher III tonight I think.
The Witcher 3 is freakin awesome.
I'm with Blake, you're not missing out on anything by not playing 4.
I hear mixed things and want to play for myself. Some people I know personally liked it. Also, if the main criticism is it's mostly driving missions, I'm honestly looking forward to it. I much prefer cars to guns in GTA. They never really got aiming down, especially not for drivebys imo.
My biggest issue was by far the controls. Both driving and on foot feel horrible.
Maybe the PS4 PS Now version will be patched? If that ever comes to exist.
When I first played GTA4, I didn't like it. I put it down and walked away. Many months later, I gave it another shot and I had fun. I'm not sure what changed, but I really enjoyed the game.
Funny how that works.
This sounds like why I don't like playing games on PC.
Yeeeeaaahhh ... this was definitely an older purchase. I detest having to sign into a game period, let alone this nonsense.
I bet you the same folks who run that service also controlled my old phone service. Talk about jumping through hoops.
If Microsoft and Rockstar controlled your cell phone service ...
Welp, now i'm glad i'm holding starting GTA IV. Seriously, isn't GFWL dead? What kind of crap is that?
Though unless something missed that I didn't know, I would correct Blake on the fact that they've patched up the game to now work, but don't count me on that.
No, they have not. If they have, it did not work on my end.